欧亨利《麦琪的礼物》英文读后感The Meaning of Gift

The Meaning of Gift

O. Henry (1862-1910) was a prolific American short-story writer, a master of surprise endings, who wrote about the life of ordinary people in New York City. Although his plot is full of coincidence, the surprise ending is his feature and appeals to the reader so much. He is one of three short story masters in the world. (O. Henry, Maupassant, Chekhov)

Henry's first collection, Cabbages and Kings appeared in 1904. The second, The Four Million, was published two years later and included his well-known stories "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Furnished Room". The Trimmed Lamp (1907) included "The Last Leaf". Henry's best known work is perhaps the much anthologized "The Ransom of Red Chief", included in the collection Whirligigs (1910). The Heart of the West (1907) presented tales of the Texas range. O. Henry published 10 collections and over 600 short stories during his lifetime.

I chose The Four Million this term. There are many short fictions in this collection, and every of them are worth reading. However, The Gift of the Magi left a deep impression on me. I consider it as the most touching novel I have ever read. It is delicate and beautiful. It contains love and tenderness.

In this article, O. Henry used his style of writing narrated a winding and simple story with humor and a little sadness. The story is about the young couple, who was short of money but had developed deep affection for each other, wanted to buy their lovers a surprising Christmas gift. Unbeknown to Jim, Della sold her most valuable possession, her beautiful hair, which was described as “a brown cascade” “had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window someday to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts”, in order to buy a platinum fob chain for Jim's watch; while unbeknown to Della, Jim sold his own most valuable possession, his watch, which was appreciated as “had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy”, to buy a set of comb with pure tortoise shell and jewelled rims for Della's hair.The young couple sacrificed their greater treasures to a gift, but neither had practical need for the other’s gift any more. But in the last paragraph, the author wrote, “But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. All who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”

In this materialistic society, people often use money to measure gifts.